i 1, 1915.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



327 



and these all thoroughly mixed so that a is thus 



obtained. 



M. foregoing arc only a few oi the man] interesting papers 

 read .it the Congress anil now published in full with the dis- 

 cussion. Several were reviewed in the November issue oi I I 

 India Rl bber World, and several others have hern reserved for 

 special notice in subsequent issues. Tin- volume closes with a 

 full report of the proceedings of the l . banquets, re- 



ceptions, etc'. 



FIRST [ND1 STRIAL DIRECTORS OF PENNSYU \\"1\ 1913 B 

 ! -lies and Information, Harri Pel 1914. 



Octavo, 778 pages, paper covers.] 



This volume, as its name implies, is a directory oi trie in- 

 dustrial establishments in the State of Pennsylvania, t<> which 

 are added the boards of trade, business men's associations, cham- 

 bei o) commerce, manufacturers' associations and miscellaneous 

 --unties, and also the labor organizations. ["hi general indus- 

 trial establishments are divided under 15 headings, according 

 t.> the nature of the occupation. There are some 75 names 

 under general rubber goods. Of this number 8 are manufac- 

 turers, the other- being wholesale distributors or branches of 

 manufacturers in other States. It is obvious that this volume 

 must prove most useful to anyone who wishes to increase his 

 business relations with commercial interests in Pennsylvania. 



RUBBER TOYS IN AMERICA. 

 By a German Toy Expert. 

 p ERMANY has exported to the United Man- during the 

 ^-* last four years toys to an average value of from seven to 

 eight million dollars. Adding to thi^ tin very large quantities 

 which are now being produced in this country, it is easily 

 seen that the amount spent every year for toys in America 

 must he a very large one. Rubber is not playing a conspic- 

 uous part in this trade ; in fact, neither American nor German 

 statistics go very deeply into this branch of the trade. An in- 

 spection of the stocks of the large stores during the Christ- 

 mas holidays showed that no great interest was taken in the 

 sale of rubber toys. Some of the largest New York concerns 

 were showing only a small selection, of the cheaper descrip- 

 tion, while others apparently did not seem to trouble at all 

 about them and were offering them at the regular rubber goods 

 counters. There is, further, the interesting fact that most of 

 the rubber toys sold in New York are to be had at the retail 

 drug stores. In fact one of the best selections of rubber toys 

 can be seen in one of these stores whose name has become a 

 household word in retail drug distribution. In a certain way 

 this seems to indicate that the buying public regards the rub- 

 ber toy as an article of sanitary value which can be given to 

 children without any risk to the health or the welfare of the 

 child. 



\nil this very feature — the absence oi danger in the use of 

 rubber toys — makes them especially suitable for very young 

 children. The child cannot hurt itself or others with the toy, 

 which can be easily cleaned without any injury to its appear- 

 ance. 



It seems, however, that no great effort has been made to 

 propagate the sale of rubber toys. In consequence, their sale 

 in the United States is possibly smaller than in any other 

 country. Toy traders in general do not seem to view the 

 ' article with great favor, but there are concerns outside New 

 York which seem to be able to dispose of very considerable 

 quantities. The demand is mostly for the red or gray article, 

 although there is a limited sale in colored goods. The buying 

 public seems to distrust highly colored rubber, possibly fear- 

 ing that the color will come off and injure the health of the 

 child. Quite apart from the fact that no manufacturer would 

 allow the use of poisonous or injurious enamels in the 

 production of this article, there is of course to be taken into 



consideration the extra cost of the colored article, for enamel- 

 ing must be i (fully to give good and reliable re- 

 sults. I hen that at least one of the large concerns selling in 

 this market is receiving orders for colored rubber toys. The 

 German manufacturers find that they have added largely to the 

 selling possibilities of their product by introducing expensive 

 and artistically colored novelties. They are selling now fairly 

 quantities of this article ranging in retail price up to $4.00. 



Ii)c . ver; ;i retail price of red and grey rubber toys in this 

 country is about 25 cents to one dollar. More expensive goods 

 -old, but the bulk of the trade is done in this 

 hue. which repri i lly speaking, about the same class 



of rubber toy manufactured in and exported from Germany. 

 Rubber toys are produced l>. a number of German manufac- 

 turers, but onhj two have really made a study of their production 

 and have created any large number of designs. Compel 

 outside Germany has been comparatively small, and in 

 sequence those two firms have gained something like a mom 

 of the trade. Of course there are a number of markets 

 which are now closed to German activity. These markets are 

 open to the American and English manufacturers who care to 

 enter the field. Among them Australia and Canada may be 

 mentioned. There is no doubt that when the war is ended 

 German manufacturers will find their business in those markets 

 seriously curtailed. 



In neutral markets the following points will have to be con- 

 sidered: When tlie war broke out most of the orders on hand 

 had been complctid but were not shipped. These could not be 

 cleared during the mobilization, but after about four weeks or- 

 dinary goods trains began to run again and it has been possible 

 to ship most of the goods ordered. Faking into consideration 

 that about one-sixth of the world's market has been closed to 

 German enterprise, it follows that quantities of the toys manu- 

 factured are still on hand. There will be a surplus supply, 

 even though all shipments reach their destinations. This si 

 actually to be the case, and the stocks in hand of the foi 

 agents are said to be fairly large. In addition there might be a 

 tendency to sell cheap, which, however, is counterbalanced by 

 the increased freight rates which had to be paid by the German 

 manufacturers, rates having in some cases doubled since the 

 outbreak of the war. There has been no prohibition of the ex- 

 port of rubber toys from Germany, and neither England nor 

 any of the other countries have shown objection to the ship- 

 ment of these articles. On the other hand, the government has 

 practically taken over the whole production of rubber goods in 

 Germany for war material purposes, and no rubber is available 

 for the manufacture of any other goods, quite apart from the 

 fact that the increased price of rubber would make them too 

 expensive to ci impeti 



With Germany. France, Belgium, Austria and Russia out of 

 competition, only England would remain of the European rub- 

 ber manufacturing countries which could satisfy the demand 

 for rubber toys if such a demand should arise in the near fu- 

 ture. But it is very doubtful whether English rubber manu- 

 facturers will care just now to go into practically a new line 

 which would require a good deal of attention and outlay before 

 it could be successfully established. Only the United States 

 manufacturer seems to be qualified for the task. It remains to 

 be seen whether the manufacture of rubber toys will be re- 

 garded by the American producer as large enough a propo- 

 sition to be handled. 



A new compound for injection into tire tubes to prevent punc- 

 tures is being introduced. It is called "Purple Wonder." 

 [Schutt Bros., Homestead, Florida.] 



In toy making factories paint is applied to wooden toys 

 pneumatic spray attached to a rubber tube. 



